A Putney man who said he had "the right" to sexually assault a vulnerable woman after paying for her taxi home has been jailed.

Jeetender Singh, of West Hill, was convicted of assault at Blackfriars Crown Court on July 7 following a five-day trial.

The 41-year-old was sentenced at the same court on August 9 to five years in prison.

He will also remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

On February 14, a 22-year-old woman called the Met Police to report she had been sexually assaulted in the early hours that day.

She had been out with friends in Piccadilly Circus, but began to feel unwell and decided to order a private taxi to go home.

While she was waiting for her taxi, a man approached her and started chatting to her and said he would look after her and later got in the taxi with her.

On the journey back, the victim was sick in the taxi and was told she would have to pay more as a result.

The man, who the victim knew as ‘Hazim’, offered to pay for the fare as they stopped at an ATM to withdraw funds.

They then continued to the victim’s home in North Kensington.

When they arrived, Singh followed the victim to her doorstep and again said he would look after her.

The victim said she was fine and just wanted to go to bed but, as she went through the door and attempted to close it, Singh pushed past her into her apartment.

She repeatedly asked him to leave but he refused.

The victim collapsed into her bed and woke up to find Singh sexually assaulting her.

She told him to get off her, to which he replied: “It’s the least you can do, I paid for the taxi.”

The victim then pushed Singh off her and he left her flat.

He was arrested on July 6 at Heathrow Airport after returning to the UK and denied the offence.

Detective Sergeant Paula Hill, from the Met’s child abuse and sexual offences command, said: “This was a serious sexual offence committed with some element of planning by the defendant.

“Singh completely took advantage of a vulnerable female after a night out in central London.

“The victim was left distraught by this attack but has shown extreme bravery in attending court to give evidence.

“She was very pleased with the verdict and feels she may have prevented Sigh committing similar crimes on other women.”